CategoryWisconsin

UPDATED: 11/16/10 and 11/19/10 to include new reports from Journal-Sentinel about Walker’s campaign contributions and to reorder the timeline (now in chronological order) and news about North Carolina.

The Governors-elect of Wisconsin (Scott Walker) and Ohio (John Kasich) made it clear during their campaigns that they would put an end to current or upcoming high-speed rail construction paid for mostly by competitive grants from the Department of Transportation.

Because of their stance, and because Secretary Ray LaHood has made it clear that Wisconsin’s $810 million and Ohio’s $400 can only be used for high-speed rail, the news changes daily. Here’s the latest in the chronology that’s happened in the past two weeks:

Illinois Department of Transportation tells Wisconsin, “We’ll take it,” (11/09/10) referring to the $810 million now in flux.

Talgo, a Spanish train manufacturer, set up shop in Milwaukee earlier this year to build trains for Wisconsin. With the current saga, they’ve suggested they may move the plant (11/11/10) to a more supportive state (Governor Quinn is calling for them to come to Illinois).